5 Ways to Share Your Love of Beading

re: 5 Ways to Share Your Love of Beading

beaded bells — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:43:27 GMT

Back in the 1980s my grandmother made beaded Christmas bells for her grandchildren. Because I recently learned I'm going to be a grandma, my interest her and her many projects is rejuvenated. I started a year-long bell making project and blog to memorialize what a creative woman she was.

Check it out: beadedbells.wordpress.com

re: 5 Ways to Share Your Love of Beading

MelindaB@14 — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:55:13 GMT

For boys why not try Fly Tying and Mariners Knots, not sure if thats what they are called but the knots used on boats by sailors. That would be a fun start... girls might enjoy it also. Another option is to try one of the "Craft Of The Month" clubs... they seem to have lots of variety & don't seem to cost too much. Good Luck!

re: 5 Ways to Share Your Love of Beading

Lisa Trachtman — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:30:54 GMT

Does anyone have any ideas on kinds of projects or how to get boys age 10+ interested in beading/knotting?

Lisa in MA

re: 5 Ways to Share Your Love of Beading

CarolynL@22 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:59:39 GMT

When the library I work for decided to combine the librarians and the circulation staff together at one desk, I decided that we needed to get to know one another better. Even though I was brand new to beading, I offered to everyone come to my house and learn how to make something. We have been doing this for over 3 years. I provide a lot of the supplies depending on the project. We have become very close and call ourselves "The Mad Library Beaders". In fact, we're meeting tomorrow night to make a lovely bracelet. I love to bead and make many gifts and raffle items for charities.

Carolyn in AZ

re: 5 Ways to Share Your Love of Beading

Her@3 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:41:34 GMT

Last year for her birthday I have my mother a focal stone bead. she enjoys making necklaces that she wears to work. I thought she would like it but in fact she loved it. I didn't just give a bead I have her an inspiration. She is the one who let me explore my artistic side and has truly nurtured it. Now we always try and give a focal piece to build a project around its a nice tradition that we can share.

re: 5 Ways to Share Your Love of Beading

RhodaW3 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:36:34 GMT

You mentioned sharing a magazine subscription with a friend who's new to beading...can you suggest a magazine or books that would be inspiring to a 10-year-old with a penchant for making all jewelry that's beaded?

Thanks,

Rhoda

Whimsy Studio, Tallmadge, OH

re: 5 Ways to Share Your Love of Beading

HannahB@15 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:10:56 GMT

Hello Jean,

My name is Hannah I'm the inventor of the game Bead Trade, I'm a huge fan of Beading Daily, I was just on the Donny Deutsch Show the Big Idea 2 weeks ago tonight, they are helping me get the word out their about my beading party game.They are actually sending me to Dallas next week to meet with the largest craft and toy company's. Katie Hacker was my suprise guest on the show this was such a cool experience for me.It's so great to have support from the beading industry. I have a new Website that will be going up tomorrow and I added Beading Daily to my site. Your right about breaking the ice with people, when ever I go some where people stop to watch what I'm working on,or ask where I teach beading classes. I've always got beads with me where ever I go. I hope everyone gets a chance to play my new Bead Trade Game so they can win a bounty of beads from each other before the holidays or giving Bead Trade as a gift for christmas is also a cool idea. Thanks again Jean and Michelle for all of your cool advise you give all of us beaders. Thanks to Michelle for having me as #7. in her article on June 9th. Just For Fun, 10 Other Uses For Beads. Have a great day. Live, Love, Dream Beads.

Sincerely,

Hannah

www.beadtradebyhannahllc.com

re: 5 Ways to Share Your Love of Beading

Kim@225 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:46:57 GMT

From earrings that have lost their mate, to bracelets and necklaces that have broken, don't fit or have gone out of fashion--it's fun to have people bring me their cast-aways and to work with them to re-design something new using the beads. People are amazed that their 'old trash' can be turned into 'new treasures' so easily. (One of my favorite 15-minute make-overs was a single pair of broken chandelier earrings that yielded 4 new, unique pairs of earrings!) I often don't charge anything because I get such a kick out of people's reactions. I think these little demos have inspired more than a couple of people to buy some pliers, earwires and headpins of their own and to realize that design is something we can all do!

re: 5 Ways to Share Your Love of Beading

Jubeadilation — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:48:12 GMT

I have two ideas for you.

First, if you have a market stall, set aside a small area (perhaps one end of your stall) for kids to make memory wire bracelets. They love it and it gets parents talking.

Second, donate to community raffles. I have just donated one item I made plus 5 two-for-the-price-of-one vouchers for a workshop. This will cost me very little (except time!) but might introduce several future customers.

Frances

www.jubeadilation.synthasite.com

re: 5 Ways to Share Your Love of Beading

DeonD — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:05:11 GMT

Several years ago I decided to hold "Bead Nights" to make a place available to people who bead. When I owned my bead shop I held Bead Night at my shop, twice a month. When I closed my shop three years ago people were wondering what we would do about Bead Night. For the first year or so we would hold Bead Night at the home of an individual who would volunteer her home where we could meet and bead. Meeting at different houses became rather difficult at times, as some traveled quite a few miles to get there, some preferred it would be just the Bead Night beaders, rather than the hostess and her family, and some simply didn't have a home large enough to accommodate all of us (sometimes up to 17 - 20 beaders). I contacted the local Community Center and talked with the Director, and he agreed to set aside the first and third Wednesdays for Bead Night, at a very minimal fee per month for each attendee. It works great, and we can accommodate many people, so when visitors want to see what we're all about they can come and visit. Most of the ones who visit end up being regular participants. We share ideas and techniques, and give our opinions of possibilities when one beader gets stumped on how to design a piece, etc. It is a great time. We share knowledge, our love of beads, and most of all we share our time with each other and we're hel;ing to keep beading alive by attracting newbies. Some bring snacks to share and we eat, bead, talk, laugh, and love each other. It's great! Try it, you'll like it.

Rollin' in the beads, Deon DeLange

re: 5 Ways to Share Your Love of Beading

Happibooker — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:48:12 GMT

I used to bead on my breaks and lunch at work. It invited comments, questions and even a few sales. I have also invited my banking supervisor to my home for a girls day to teach her how to make her own earrings. It is contagious. I wore a pearl and tourmaline necklace to my high school reunion and it opened up a few conversations with old friends I thought I didn't have much in common with. Bead lovers are everywhere and we can entice them in to our little world with little effort.